Lead Aero-Thermal-Fluids Engineer

Rocketdyne; Florida; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocketdyne in Florida seeks an Aero-Thermal-Fluids engineer to provide technical leadership in the analysis, prediction, and optimization of aerothermal environments for liquid rocket engines and propulsion systems. You will guide high-fidelity thermal and CFD analyses and act as a technical authority on modeling methods and tools.

This hands-on leadership role requires balancing analytical excellence with program execution, collaboration, and mentorship.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading aero-thermal-fluids analyses for propulsion systems.
• Ability to translate analysis results into design decisions and risk assessments.
• Experience guiding development and production programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead aero-thermal-fluids analysis activities across development and production programs.
• Develop high-fidelity thermal and CFD analyses to predict component environments.
• Define engine-level thermal environments and margins for downstream teams.
• Mentor early career engineers and promote analytical rigor.

Skills

Aero-thermal leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Tools

ANSYS Mechanical

CFX

Fluent

STAR-CCM+

SINDA/FLUINT

Thermal Desktop

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking an Aero-Thermal-Fluids engineer to provide technical leadership in the analysis, prediction, and optimization of aerothermal environments for liquid rocket engines and propulsion systems. This role leads advanced thermal and fluid analysis efforts to ensure propulsion hardware meets performance, durability, and mission requirements.

Job Description

We are seeking an Aero-Thermal-Fluids engineer to provide technical leadership in the analysis, prediction, and optimization of aerothermal environments for liquid rocket engines and propulsion systems. This role leads advanced thermal and fluid analysis efforts to ensure propulsion hardware meets performance, durability, and mission requirements.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in aero-thermal-fluids engineering and has a strong track record of leading complex technical work across development and production programs. This individual will serve as a technical authority in aerothermal modeling methods and tools, guiding design decisions through high-fidelity analysis and strong cross-functional collaboration.

This position requires a hands-on technical leader who can balance deep analytical expertise with program execution, communication, and mentorship. The successful candidate will be proactive, organized, and highly effective at driving technical rigor while supporting team development.

This is an opportunity to play a critical role in shaping propulsion system performance, thermal robustness, and engineering excellence within an advanced aerospace organization.

Essential Functions

Technical Leadership

• Provide expert technical leadership in the analysis, prediction, and optimization of aerothermal environments for liquid rocket engines and propulsion systems.
• Serve as a technical authority on aerothermal modeling methods, tools, assumptions, and best practices.
• Lead aero-thermal-fluids analysis activities across development and production programs.
• Partner with engineering leadership and cross-functional teams to resolve complex thermal and fluid-related design challenges.

Thermal and Fluid Analysis

• Lead aerothermal analyses for combustion chambers, nozzles, turbomachinery, ducts, valves, and other thermal-fluid systems.
• Develop and execute high-fidelity thermal, CFD, and convective or film cooling analyses to predict component environments and support design decisions.
• Define, maintain, and improve engine-level thermal environments, margin assessments, and boundary conditions for use by structural and materials engineering teams.
• Interpret analysis results and translate findings into actionable design recommendations, risk assessments, and performance improvements.

Program Execution and Test Support

• Plan, prioritize, and execute aero-thermal-fluids analysis activities in support of program milestones, design reviews, and hardware maturation.
• Support test campaigns by analyzing thermo-fluid data, correlating analytical predictions with hot fire results, and recommending design or operational changes.
• Identify technical risks, uncertainties, and model limitations early, and work with program teams to develop mitigation plans.
• Contribute to design validation, anomaly resolution, and continuous improvement of analytical methods and processes.

Communication and Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with design, materials, test, manufacturing, and program teams to ensure thermal robustness and mission reliability.
• Prepare and present technical reports, design review content, and formal documentation to internal and external stakeholders, including customers and program leadership.
• Clearly communicate assumptions, results, recommendations, and technical tradeoffs to support informed decision-making.

Team Development

• Mentor earlier career engineers through technical guidance, coaching, and knowledge sharing.
• Support the development of team capability in aerothermal analysis methods, tools, and engineering judgment.
• Promote strong engineering practices, analytical rigor, and continuous learning across the organization.
• Job Requirements:
• Provide expert technical leadership in advanced analysis, prediction, and optimization of aerothermal environments for liquid rocket engines and propulsion systems
• Serve as a technical authority on aerothermal modeling methods and tools
• Lead aerothermal analysis activities for combustion chambers, nozzles, turbomachinery, ducts, valves, and other various thermal systems across development and production programs
• Develop and execute high-fidelity thermal, CFD, and convective/film cooling analyses to predict component environments and inform design decisions
• Own and maintain engine-level thermal environments, margin assessments, and boundary condition definitions for downstream structural and materials engineering teams
• Support test campaigns by analyzing thermo-fluid data, correlating analytical predictions with hot fire results, and recommending design or operational changes as needed
• Collaborate cross-functionally with design, materials, test, and manufacturing teams to ensure thermal robustness and mission reliability
• Prepare and present technical reports, design reviews, and formal documentation to internal and external stakeholders, including customers and program leadership
• Mentor earlier career team members
• Preferred Skills:
• ANSYS Mechanical
• Fluent
• CFX
• Thermal Desktop
• STAR-CCM+
• SINDA/FLUINT
• (or equivalent CFD/thermal tools)
• Excellent communication and technical writing ability